Take Back Your Life!

“No one gets very far unless s/he accomplishes the impossible at least once
a day.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

I’m a lot like Melanie Griffith’s character in Working Girl, always cutting out things in the paper that catch my eye. I like to share what I find with others who might find the info interesting or helpful. A kind of journalistic paying it forward.

Recently, I read an article about a photographer taking pics of his subject, a nude woman, in all sorts of places. The model named one of the photos: Nihil Intentatum. Says it was said by Erasmus, and it means, Leave Nothing Unattempted. I love that philosophy — to try to do as much as you can on your Earth journey. The tendency in our “perfectionist culture” is to talk ourselves out of doing most everything — as a precaution in case we fail. That way we don’t lose face.

But what if we change that so that you only lose face if you don’t try it. That would make a lot more folks try the impossible. And so many terrific things were once thought to be impossible. The plane? Going to the Moon? Unleaded gas? Ferris Wheels? CDs? Disney World? Women voting? Someone attempted the impossible no doubt in front of a chorus of “that’s impossible!” I’m glad for the few folks who refuse to listen to the naysayers and try it for him/herself.

This even goes for artwork. For me, art has become trying to do that has not been done by others. It may be similar because humans often have similar ideas, but I strive to let myself go and create something very Giulietta. Give the painting my own spin. It’s funny but when I first started painting, a friend told me she changed the color of the sky in a photo she was given to paint from. I thought to myself, “How does she do that, change the color of the sky?” She must be a magician!” Golly, I’ve come along way. Now I make up my own sky color. I don’t need to look at a sky. Besides, we’ve seen these things a gazillion times. Yet, feel hampered in the art of fantasy when we pick up a brush.

If you live in the area, check out my upcoming “Wild Painting!” one day program. It will liberate you to paint with more abandon.

Here is 2/3’s of Stained Glass Dragonfly, in watercolor. Scanner too small to get it all in.

What impossible thing would you like to try or have tried? Or have attempted to try and been greeted with “you can’t do that!” Or, maybe you’ve even said it yourself to someone in your life. Maybe, a child or a sibling, a boss an employee, or even yourself?

What can we do to make attempting the impossible more attractive to folks? I believe the impossible should be encouraged from day one and we should strike, “That’s not realistic” from our vocabulary. Other ideas? Please leave your trace below!

Thanks,

G.